Neal presenting the inaugural Neal Jotham Award for the Advancement of Animal Welfare at the Fur Institute of Canada meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, June 2015. From the Truth About Fur blog, read Neal Jotham: A life dedicated to humane trapping.

Peter Noer, a second generation fur farmer, came from Denmark to Newfoundland and Labrador to raise mink. Now he’s also raising a family and teaching his young son to enjoy working with animals as much as he does. “We give our animals the best possible care and humane treatment. In Newfoundland and Labrador, we are required to follow a strictly regulated protocol. And that’s ok because it’s really the only way to produce top-quality fur, our province’s most valuable agricultural export.” Learn more about the Newfoundland and Labrador Fur Breeders Association at furfarming.ca.

This video by the National Trappers Association debunks the myths about the modern live hold foot trap, called a steel jaw leg trap by its critics. They say it’s a cruel, crushing device that maims the animals it doesn’t kill – that it is dangerous and inhumane. In reality, the traps described by critics are no longer used, while the modern foot trap is both humane and a key tool in wildlife management. Wildlife biologists with federal and state agencies charged with managing our wild lands and wild animals say the live hold foot trap is an important tool they use for a variety of reasons, including the return of animals like the river otter, lynx and wolf long missing from native habitat back to lands where they once thrived. At the turn of the 20^th century, America’s rush to clear land, fill marshes and swamps and streams, coupled with unchecked pollution and unregulated harvests, took their toll on the country’s river otter population. By the 1980s, 11 states had no otters at all, and 13 states had very few. In 1982, Missouri led the way in river otter reintroduction. Since then, in 18 states, over 4,000 river otters captured with the live hold foot trap have found new homes. Thousands of wolves, lynx, fishers, martens, beaver, bobcat, red and grey fox, possum and raccoons have been studied, treated, relocated and released, healthy and whole, thanks to the live hold foot trap. The evidence is overwhelming. The animals captured by the live hold foot trap are released with no harm done to them. If this trap were in fact a cruel and crippling device, wildlife managers would have rejected it long ago. It’s not, and they haven’t. The live hold foot trap has been, and should remain, a valuable wildlife restoration and management tool. Contrary to the myth that this trap maims and mutilates animals, the norm is for the animal to hunker down and wait. Some drop off to sleep.

In this January 2014 TV segment, Shaw TV Saskatoon looks at the potential for trapping to revive the culture of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, through the eyes of Jarret Nelson. Jarret Nelson is packing for a day on the trap line. He recently moved back to his home community of Montreal Lake to follow his culture. In the winter, trapping is his full-time occupation. “As with most of our communities, our culture is a dying tradition and I’m trying to preserve it and keep it going,” says Jarret. Nelson learned how to trap from his grandfather. Like most trappers, he spends a lot of time clearing trails. This land has been used by his family for tens of generations. “On the trap line, whether you catch something or not, you’re always learning something out here. Just being out here, you don’t even worry about anything that comes with the office work.” The fur trade is considered by some to be Canada’s earliest industry. Currently, fur prices are up, though fur prices and the loss of culture made many trappers abandon the practice. However, two years ago the Asian fashion industry renewed the popularity of fur. Since then the price of pelts has significantly increased. High-quality coyotes sell for around $80. Martens are around $170. This is making trapping a viable way of life for First Nations and others who harvest fur. Says Jarret, “If our people start learning their cultures and traditions and going back to the lands and looking after their trap lines, yes, there is a guarantee that people can make a healthy living and a viable source of income. If you put the work and the sweat into it, you’re going to make money.”

In this fascinating video from Fur Takers of America, wildlife biologists and trappers explain the reasons why trapping is necessary in today's world and how it benefits wildlife populations. “I think as sentient human beings we have a moral obligation to treat our environment and animals that are in it with moral wisdom.” David Hastings, trapper, Nebraska. “The cruelest thing a human can do to a furbearing animal, or any game wildlife, is to fail to harvest their numbers and allow them to overpopulate.” Gary Jepson, trapper, North Dakota. “A significant part of wildlife management is maintaining healthy populations of wildlife on a landscape, and you may think that that would imply not harvesting the animals, but in fact it’s necessary to harvest the animals. Trying to maintain a healthy population means actually keeping it in check, keeping it in balance with the landscape’s ability to sustain them.” Chris Bernier, wildlife biologist. “The key tool we have today … When I say we, as folks who are trying to manage and protect and preserve our natural resources such as furbearers … is the users themselves, trappers. They’re a scientific tool on the landscape today.” Mark Scott, Director of Wildlife, Vermont. “I don’t think anybody champions wildlife conservation with more interest and with more fervor than trappers do. … It’s really quite difficult to be an animal in the wild, and there’s lots of ways that animals die. They die from getting hit by cars, they die from predation, they die from disease, and trappers, who really care about animals actually take animals that would otherwise die of other means. And wildlife biologists and trappers alike care about the perpetuation of these wildlife populations because that’s really what’s important from the standpoint of ecosystem health.” Kimberly Royar, special projects biologist, Vermont.

This is the fur design studio of Centria University in Pietersaari in Finland. It was so nice to meet the students and instructors who are involved with this wonderful course. There aren't many courses around the world teaching the art of this highly specialized skill.

The sewing and finishing stages are done by experienced technicians using the same specialized tools that have been used for generations. Photo: Claire Beaugrand-Champagne, 2007.

Working with fur requires years of experience. In Montreal, skilled artisan George Pavlou, of atelier Noble Furs, uses a furrier's knife to cut fur pelts to fit a pattern on his blocking board. Photo: Claire Beaugrand-Champagne, 2007.

Musa Musi, John Zarifoglu and Arthur Arakilyan, of atelier Musi Furs. Photo: Claire Beaugrand-Champagne, 2007.

International Fur Federation Fake fur is made from petroleum-based synthetic materials that are a major source of environmental pollution, including microfibres in our oceans. Natural fur, however, is a sustainable, environment-friendly resource.

In this 360 video tour, you’ll get to see inside a working Canadian mink farm and learn all about how mink are cared for, what they eat, where they live and how Canadian mink farmers produce high quality products for the industry. Visit www.FarmFood360.ca to tour other Canadian farms and food-processing facilities.

Working with family every day is not something most of us will be able to experience. This Ontario farm family have been raising mink for over 70 years. Ross Sr., Ted and Elaine, Cassie, Jenny and Dean all work together on their mink farm with the goal of raising high-quality Canadian mink in the most comfortable and humane conditions possible. Visit the Canadian FarmFood360 website at www.FarmFood360.ca.